Synchronizing device



p 23, 1941- J. KENNEDY 2,256,569

SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE Filed June 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l E E. INVENTOR P 23, 1941- J. A. KENNEDY 2,256,569

SYNCHRONIZ ING DEVICE .INVENTOR 7427/65 .ATTORNEY reference being had to Patented Sept. 23, 1941 James A. Kennedy,

tenaw County,

Mich.

Ann Arbor Township, Wash- Application June 3, 1940, Serial No. 338,668

12 Claims.

This invention relates to synchronizing devices and more particularly to such devices adapted for synchronizing a plurality of rotating machines or mechanisms.

One of the objects of the present invention is' to provide an improved synchronizing device including differential gearing and having a simplified mechanism for converting the movements of the differential gearing into the synchronizing movements of the speed controlling member of the following machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a synchronizing device for engines, which device includes differential gearing and has an improved mechanism converting the movements of said gearing into the synchronizing movements of the throttle controlling mechanism.

' A further object of the invention is to provide an improved synchronizing device which may be built in a standard size and used in connection with various en'gines irrespective of their throttle travel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide .an improved synchronizing device for internal combustion engines, which device performs its synchronizing function without affecting the speed of the leading engine or pr c sudden increases or decreases of the speed in the following engine or other irregularities in its op: eration.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved synchronizing device which may be connected and disconnected from the following engine without disorganizing or adversely afiectlng the speed and the smooth operation thereof.

It is an added object of the presentinvention to provide a Synchronizing device of the foregoing character which is compact and simple in construction, dependable in operation, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims,

the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operative interconnection between the leading engine, the synchronizing device embodying the present invention, and the following engine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the synchronizing device shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the view being taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I I

Fig. 3 is another sectional view of the synchronizing device, said view being taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a modifled construction embodying the present invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates an operative connection between the crank of the synchronizing device and the throttle of the following engine, said figure also showing the adjustment means permitting connection of a standard synchronizing device to engines having throttles with different throttle travel.

Fig. 6 is a sectional iew showing another modification of my improved synchronizing device.

Fig. '7 shows a still further modification of the Y synchronizing device.

v Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there are shown, by way of example, several structures embodying the present invention. My improved synchronizing device is illustrated in-the drawings and hereinafter described as applied to two internal .com-

bustion engines having usual throttles. It will be understood, however, that my improved synchronizing device may be applied with equal success to synchronizing more than two engines and also to engines different than engines of the 11'1- ternal combustion type. For instance, my synchronizing device may be used in connection with steam engines and also with various rotating machines or mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the operative connection of my improved synchronizing device to two internal combustion engines. Referring to said figure, the numeral l0 designates generally an engine manually controlled with the aidof a rod ll suitably connected by its respective ends to the throttle l2 and to a manually actuated mechanism such for instance as a pedal (not shown). The numetal l3 designates generally a similar engine engine ID as the same changes its rotative speed and for this reason the engine |3 may be termed I a following engine. The following engine I3 is provided with a throttle or speed controlling member l4 similar to the throttle |2 of the leading engine It. The throttle 4 is operated withthe aid of a rod l5. 1

The synchronizing device is indicated generally by the numeral I 6. It is drivingly connected to th engine III with the aid of a flexible \cable I I1 and with the following engine |3 with a similar cable l8. It is preferable to utilize for such a connection the tachometer cables usually provided in engines. Thus the synchronizing device may be simply inserted in said cables such as illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein cables I! and 8 are shown leading to the synchronizing device l6 and from said device to a tachometer (not shown).

Th synchronizing device shown in Figs. '2 and '3 comprises generally a casing 20 having a removable bottom 2| and a cover 22. In said casing 20 there is operatively journalled a shaft 23 on which there are rotatively mounted two bevel gears 24 and 25. The bevel gears 24 and 25 are provided with means whereby they are connected for rotation with the flexible cables I! and 8 respectively. In th present embodiment said connection is effected with the aid of worm-andgear means. Worms 26 and 21 are suitably arranged in the casing and connected respectively to the flexible cables I! and I8 and engage gears 28 and 29. By virtue of such a construction the gears 28 and 29 freely rotate on the shaft 23 in proportion to the rotative speed of the engines.

vIn the present embodiment of the invention the engines l and I3 are presumed to rotate in opposite directions and therefore the gears 28 and 29 also rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other. Since there is no driving connection between the gears 28 and 29 and the shaft 23, said gears as well as gears 24 and 25 may rotate independently of the shaft 23 and also of each other. It should b clearly understood however that gears 28 and 24 are securely connected together as well as gears 29 and 25, and it is preferable to manufacture said connected gears as integral units.

On the shaft 23 there is mounted an eccentric movement begins to revolve around the shaft 23,

'ment of the eccentric 30 said revolving continuing as long as there is a difference in rotative speeds of thegears 24 and 25. In the example given, the connecting gear 3| will bodily revolvearound the shaft 23 in a clockwise direction, the observer presumed to be looking on the shaft 23 from the right hand side thereof. The above described movements of the eccentric 30 are utilized for changingthe'position of the speed controlling memberor throttle l4 of the following engine l3 to increase the speed of the engine I3 until the rotative speed of the connected gears 29 and 25 is increased to a point when it becomes equal to the rotative speed of the connected gears 28 and 24, in which case bodily movement or revolving of the connecting bevel gear ceases and th throttle l4. remains stationary in. the position to which it was brought by the controlling movements of the eccentric 30.

The operative connection between the throttle M of the following engine 3 and the eccentric 30 is provided by a follower finger 33 mounted on a countershaft 34 operatively joumalled in the casing 20. On one end of. the countershaft 34 there is provided a crank 35 connected with the aid of the rod I5 to the throttle l4 of the following engine l3. A spring 36 connected to the casing 20 and to a pin 31-secured to the shaft 34 insures constant and yielding engageby the follower finger 33. In operation as the eccentric 30 rotates, the follower finger 33 is moved, thus rotating the shaft 34 and, consequently, the crank 35 is actupresent embodiment of the invention said means generally indicated by the numeral 30, the left hand portion of which, termed controlling portion and indicated by the character 30a, is pro vided with a certain amount of eccentricity, while the right hand portion termed non-controlling portion indicated by the numeral 30b is concentric with the shaft 23. Portions 30a and 30b smoothly merge. into each other. The eccentric 30 carries a connecting bevel gear 3| mounted therein for rotation on a shaft 32.

It will now be understood in view of the foregoing that the bevel gears 24 and 25 and the connecting bevel gear 32 form a differential mechanism. In operation, when the gears 24 and 25 secured respectively to the gears 28 and 29 rotate at equal rotative speeds in opposite directions, the connecting bevel gear 3| rotates on its shaft 32 but remains bodily stationary. If one of the gears, the gear 25 for instance, begins rotating' slower than the gear 24 which may be caused by the engine |3 slowing down, the conare represented by a crank 38 rotatively mounted on the shaft 34 and provided with a slot or notch 38a adapted to be engaged by a tooth 35a of the crank 35. A slip joint 39 is provided on the shaft portion 40 and engages the opposite end of the shaft 34. The. shaft portion 40 is threaded as indicated an internally threaded portion provided in the boss 42 formed on the casing 28. As the shaft portion-40 is rotated with the aid of a lever or crank 43 from the position shown in Fig. 2, the screw thread operates to move the shaft portion 42 to the right. Because of this movement of the shaft portion 40 connected by the slip joint '39 with the shaft 34, the shaft 34 also moves to the right. Such movement of the shaft 34 produces movement of the follower finger 33 from the eccentric portion 30a to the concentric portion 30b of the eccentric 30, as well as an engagement of the cranks 35 and 38 through the tooth and slot 35a and 38a forming, in eifect, a ,aw clutch. Under such conditions rotation of the eccentric 30 does not produceany movement of the follower finger 33 and therefore said eccentric becomes in operative for moving the crank 35 and consequently the throttle |4. However, the cranks 38 and 35 being positively connected together by the jaw clutch, the manual control lever 44 connected to thecrank 38 may be used for operating the throttle |4 manually. The movements of the manual control lever 44. will cause movements of the follower finger 33 but the same will be of no consequence as far as the synchronizing operations are concerned. It should be understood at this point that the diameter of the concentric at 4|, the threaded portion engaging or less than the smaller diameter of the eccentric,

My improved synchronizing device may be manufactured in one or several standard sizes and may be used with various engines having different throttle movements or strokes: Means are provided whereby adjustment can be made and movement of the crank 35 is brought to a proper relation to the movement of the following engine throttle l4. In the present embodiment of the invention said means are in the form of a slot 46, see Fig. 5, provided in the crank 35 and a wing nut means 45 connecting the rod l to the crank 35. By moving the end of the rod l5 and tightening it in a proper position along the slot 46, the stroke of the rod i5 may be adjusted to the stroke of the throttle in any given engine.

Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment having a simplified eccentric. general organization of the differential device is similar to that of the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The device includes a casing 50, worms 5| and 52, driving ears 53 and 54 rotatively mounted on a shaft 55. To the shaft 55 there is secured an eccentric 56 carrying a connecting bevel gear 51. A follower finger 58 is secured to a hollow countershaft 59 journalled in suitable bearings in the casing 50 and provided with means preventing its longitudinal sliding in the casing. In the present embodiment said means are ex emplified by the retainer washers 66. A spring 6| connected to the pin 62 secured to the countershaft 59 tends to keep the follower finger 58 in constant operative engagement with the eccentric 56. Within the hollow countershaft 59 there is rotatively and slidably fitted a second shaft 63 having on one of its ends a crank 64 substantially similar with the crank 35 of the structure shown in Fig. 2. The shaft may be of solid construction as in the present instance. The crank 64 is rigidly secured to the shaft 63. By means of a tooth 64a engaging a slot 590. and forming, in effect, a jaw clutch, the crank 64 and the shaft 59 may be operatively connected together for simultaneous rotation.

On the opposite end of the shaft 63 there is rigidly secured a head piece 65 having a tooth 65a adapted to engage a' slot 66a of a manual control crank 66. The crank 66 rotates freely on the hollow countershaft 59 but is prevented from sliding along saidcountershaft 59 by a screw 61 following a circular groove 68 provided on the end of the hollow shaft 59 A shifting fork 69 is provided and it enables moving the shaft 63 longitudinally. The fork 69 is operated manually in any suitable way.

In this embodiment the In operation in the position of the shaft 63 I shown in Fig. 4 the automatic control in Fig. 4 the automatic control crank 64 is disconnected from the hollow countershaft 59, and therefore rotation of said countershaft 59 produced by the follower finger 58 does not affect said crank 64. Rotation of the countershaft 59 also does not affect the manual control crank 66, as explained.

On the other hand the manual control crank 66 the crank 66 and connecting the shaft 59 with the crank 64.

Fig. 6 illustrates a synchronizing device of a simplified construction which is intended for automatic control of the following engine but does not provide for manual control thereof. As shown in Fig. 6, said device comprises a casing 15, worms [6 and 11 engaging gears 18 and 19 having bevel gear portions 18a and 19a and rotatably mounted on a shaft 80. Shaft has a projection 8| carrying a connecting bevel gear 82 engaging the bevel gear portions 18a and 79a of the gears 16 and 19, respectively. To the shaft 80 there is secured an automatic control crank 83. The operation of the device is similar to the automatic control operation of the structures -means illustrated in Fig. 5 may be used in any of the above described structures.

Iclaim:

1. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed controlling members, said device including a shaft, two gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, and a connecting gear carried bysaid eccentric and operatively engaging both of said first gears and adapted to revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds.

2. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed controlling members, said device including a shaft, two gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, and a connecting gear carried by said eccentric and opera ively engaging both-of said gears and adapted to revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds, a follower engaging said eccentric, and means operatively connecting said follower with the speed controlling member of the following engine.

3. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed controlling members, said device including a shaft, two bevel gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, and a connecting gear carried by said eccentric and operatively engaging both of said bevel gears and adapted to revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds, means operatively connecting said eccentric with the speed controlling member of the following engine, and adjustment means for changing the relationship between the movements of said connecting means and the speed controlling member of the following engine, said adjustment means adapted to effect selectively an infinitely large number of adjustment positions.

4. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed controlling members, said device including a shaft, two gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite gears and adaptedto revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds, a follower engaging the controlling portion of said eccentric, means operatively connecting said follower with the speed controlling member of the following engine, and means for moving selectively said follower out of engagement with said controlling portion of the ec-- centric in order to render said eccentric inoperative for controlling purposes. I

5. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed controlling members, said device including a shaft, two bevel gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, a connecting gear carried by said eccentric and operatively engaging both of said bevel gears and adapted to revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds, a follower engaging said eccentric, means operatively connecting said follower with the speed controlling I member of the following engine, a portion concentric with said shaft and merging smoothly into said eccentric, and manually operated means moving said follower from said eccentric to said concentric portion for rendering said eccentric inoperative for automatic controlling operation.

6. In a devicefor synchronizing two engines having speed controlling members, said device including a shaft, two bevel gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said'gears, and a connecting gear carried by said eccentric and oper-.

atively engaging both of said bevel gears and adapted to revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds, a countershaft operatively connected with the speed controlling member of the following engine, a follower finger secured to said countershaft and engaging said eccentric to transmit movements thereof to said shaft and, conseq y. to the speed controlling member of the following engine.

, 7. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed-controlling members, said device including a shaft, two bevel gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connecting said gears to said engines for rotation in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, a connecting gear volve bodily for rotating said eccentric when said gears rotate at different speeds, a countershaft operatively connected-with the speed controlling member of the following engine, a follower finger secured to said countershaft and engaging said eccentric to transmit movements .thereof to said shaft and, consequently, to the speed controlling member of the following enzinc, and resilient means insuring a yielding engagement of the eccentric by said followe finger.

8. In a device for synchronizing two engine having speed controlling members, said devic including a shaft, two bevel gears rotativel mounted on said shaft, means drivingly con necting said gears to said engines for rotatioi in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted 01 said shaft intermediate said gears, a connectin gear carried by said eccentric and operativel engaging both of said bevel gears and adapte to revolve bodily for rotating said eccentri when said gears rotate at different speeds, 1 countershaft, a crank secured to said counter shaft and operatively connected to the spee controlling member of the following engine, 1 follower secured to said countershaft and adapt ed to engage said eccentric for. rotating th countershaft in response to the operative move ments of said eccentric, and means renderin, said follower irresponsive to controlling move ments of said eccentric, 1

9. In a device for synchronizing two engine having speed controlling members, said devic including a shaft, two bevel gears rotativel; mounted on said shaft, means drivingly con necting said gears to said engines for rotatioi in opposite directions, an eccentric mounted 01 said shaft intermediate said gears, a connectin gear carried by said eccentric and operativel; engaging both of said bevel gears and adapter to revolve bodily for rotating: said eccentri when said gears rotate at different speeds, countershaft, a crank secured to said counter shaft and operatively connected to the speel controlling member of the following engine, 1 follower secured to said countershaft and adapt ed to engage said eccentric for rotating th countershaft in response to the operative move ments of said eccentric, and means for movinl said countershaft longitudinally of its axis f0 bringing the follower into and out of the op erative position with respect to the eccentric, loose crank on said countershaft connected to manual control means of the following motoi and jaw clutch means on said cranks adapted t connect drivingly said cranks when said coun tershaft is moved longitudinally of its axis, an means for moving said countershaft longitudi nally within predetermined limits for connect ing and disconnecting said cranks for manna and for automatic control of the following en gine, respectively.

10. In a device for synchronizing two engine having speed controlling members, said devic including a shaft, two bevel gears rotativel; mounted on said shaft, means drivingly connect ing said gears to said engines for rotation i1 opposite directions, an eccentric mounted on sail shaft intermediate said gears, and a connectim gear carried by said eccentric and operativel; engaging both of said bevel gears and adapted t revolve bodily for rotating said eccentric whe1 said gears rotate at different speeds, a holloi countershaft, a follower secured to said coun tershaft and engaging said eccentric for rotat ing said countershaft in response to the op erative movements of said eccentric, a soli1 shaft rotatively and slidably arranged in sail hollow countershaft, one end of said solid shaf being operatively connected to the speed. con trolling member of the following engine, am means for drivingly connecting and disconnect ing said shafts.

11. Ina device for synchronizing two engine having speed controlling throttle valves, one of said engines being leading and the other following, said device comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, two spaced bevel gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, worm-and gear means drivingly connecting said bevel gears to said leading engine and said following engine, respectively, for rotation in opposite. directions with respect to each other, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, a connecting bevel gear carried by said eccentric and operatively engaging both of said bevel gears and adapted to move bodily with said eccentric when said bevel gearsrotate at different speeds, a hollow countershaft rotatively journalled in said casing, a follower secured to said hollow countershaft and engaging said eccentric for rotating said countershaft in response to the rotative movements of said eccentric, a second shaft rotatively arranged within said hollow shaft and longitudinally slidable therein, a manual control crank rotatively arranged on said hollow shaft, means drivingly connecting one end of said second shaft with the throttle valve of the following engine, and means adapted in one sliding position of said second shaft to connect drivingly said manual control crank with said second shaft, and in the other sliding position of said second shaft to connect the same drivingly with said hollow shaft.

12. In a device for synchronizing two engines having speed controlling throttle valves, one of said engines being leading and the other following, said device comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, two spaced bevel gears rotatively mounted on said shaft, worm-andge'ar means drivingly conecting said bevel gears to said leading engine and said following engine, respectively, for rotation in opposite directions with respect to each other, an eccentric mounted on said shaft intermediate said gears, a connecting bevel gear carriedby said eccentric and operatively engaging both of said bevel gears and adapted to move bodily with said eccentric when said bevel gears rotate a different speeds, a hollow countershaft rotatively journalled in said casing, a follower secured to said hollow countershaft and engaging said eccentric' for rotating said countershaft in response to the rotative movements of said eccentric, a second shaft rotatively arranged within said hollow shaft and longitudinally slidable therein, a manual control crank rotatively arranged on said hollow shaft, two jaw clutches adapted in one position of the second shaft to connect the same drivingly with said hollow shaft for automatic control of the following engine, and in the other position 'of the second shaft to disconnect the same from said hollow shaft and connect it drivingly with said manual control crank.

'JAMES A. KENNEDY. 

